Putty softener



' May 1, 1935. o. P. GLICK 2,000,751

I PUTTY SOFTENER Filed Feb. 12, 1934 gywowtm Gum/W3 Patented May 7, 1935' y UNITED STATES PATENT mm 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a putty softener, and is more particularly designed for removing putty from a window sash or other frame for replacing or reclaiming the glass. It is an exceedingly difficult and tedious task to remove hardened putty from a sash without damaging either the sash frame or the glass. The principal object of this invention is to provide a device which can be used to quickly soften continuous strips of the hardened putty while the sash is in place so that the glass can be easily removed from the sash.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the device that it can be employed upon a sash of various shapes and sizes so as to reach the putty in the diflicultly accessible corners of the sash without damage to the sash frame or glass.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and emciency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:--

Fig. 1 illustrates the invention in use upon a typical window sash.

Fig. 2 is an edge view thereof looking in the direction of the arrow 2, Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section through the softener taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 illustrates an alternate form of the invention designed more particularly for reaching the corners of a sash.

A typical window pane is indicated at III with its sash frame at H and its retaining putty fillet at H.

The invention comprises a relatively long backing strip l3 of wood, fiber, or other suitable material, on one face of which several layers of insulating material M, such as asbestos board, are attached by means of suitable attachment bolts l5. One corner edge of the insulating strips is cut away to form a diagonal face It! to fit over the putty fillet l2. Immediately back of the diagonal face I8 and extending throughout the length of the strip is a coiled wire, heating element It. To facilitate the insertion of the heating element i6, two of the insulating strips II are grooved so that the element may be placed therein during assembly. An open slot ll extends throughout the length of the diagonal face through which the heating element is exposed.

The backing strip I3 is provided with an electrical attachment receptacle 19 of any suitable design. Each extremity of the heating element is electrically connected with the receptacle IS. The connection to the far extremity is made through a return wire 20 extending in a groove between two of the insulating strips I4.-

It is of course to be understood that the entire device could be made of electric and heat insulating material. The construction illustrated is, however, of stiff backing strip l3 with the insulating strips l4 attached thereto in laminated relation, is economical to manufacture and aids in the assembling of the various elements.

In use, an electrical plug 2| on the extremity of a pair of conductors 22 is inserted in the receptacle l9 so as to supply electrical current to the element. When the diagonal face is placed against the putty of a sash, the heat from the element It will quickly soften a long strip of the putty so that it may be readily removed with the usual putty knife. It will be noted that the extremities of the device are cut back, as shown at 23 to allow the device to fit into the corners of a sash over the corner putty.

In Fig. 4 an alternate form of the invention is illustrated particularly designed for use in sash corners. This alternate form is constructed similarly to the previously described form except that it is L-shaped so that it can fit directly into the corner of the sash.

The heating element may be wound for any desired voltage so that it can be operated from the usual house lighting current or from a suitable storage battery as desired. It will be noted that the outside insulating strip It protects the glass pane from the heat of the element so as to prevent cracking of the glass.

While the device is particularly designed for softening putty in a window sash, it is of course not limited to this particular use.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:-

1. A device for softening putty in a. window member; a series of insulating strips; bolts securing said strips in laminated relation against said backing member; a heating element extending longitudinally of said device embedded in grooves formed in said strips; and a diagonal face on said strips adjacent said heating element, there being a longitudinally extending slot in said diagonal face exposing said heating element throughout its length.

OSCAR P. GLICK. 

